Electric switch



June 9, 1953 M. NpGLKlKMAN 2,641,669

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 31, 1948 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

MANNES N. GLICKMAN ATTORNEY June 9, 1953 'M. N. GLICKMAN ELECTRIC SWITCH2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 31, 1948 B G H ""Fl G. 10

'FIG.15

FIG.14

INVENTOR.

MANNES N. GLICKMAN ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES. PATENTOFFICE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Mannes Glickman, Nutley, N. J.

Original application August 31., 104.8,, Serial. No. 47,050, now PatentNo. 2,597,080, datedM'ay 20,

1952. Divided and this application December 15, 1951, Serial No. 261,808

7- Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches of the liquid contact,mercury type. This applicatijon is a division of application Ser. No.47,050, filed August 31, 1948, now Patent No. 2,597,080, May 20; 1952. 7

An object of this invention is to provide an electric switch whichincludes a movable circuit clos ing element and a switch housing formounting such element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch constructionincluding a housing and a. switch body mounted for movement in thehousing and comprising exteriorly projecting terminals, the housinghaving contact strips which are slidablyengaged by the terminals as theswitch body is moved between its on and" off posi tions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch constructionincluding a housing and a switch body of the mercury contact type, theswitch body being rotatable about a transverse axis and includingeccentrically disposed terminals which are adapted to move frompositions. below and above the level of the mercury as the body isrotated, the housing being provided with arcuatecontact strips which areslidably engaged by exterior portions of the switch body as the same isrotated.

Yet-a further object of this invention is to pro videa switch housingwhich may be fabricated from a minimum number of component. parts, iseconomical to produce and; is highly eflicient when used in combinationwith a movable switch body particularly adapted therefor.

Otherobjects of this invention will in part, be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the structures hereinafterdescribed, and of which thescope of invention will be indicated in the claims following,

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. I is a vertical section of a switch body embodying the invention;Fig. 2- is a side elevationalview thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a switch body embodying the inventionand illustrating a modification thereof; Figs. 4 and 5 are sideelevational views, showing different rotated positions thereof;

Fig. 6- is a vertical section of another modified form of switch body;Fig; '1 is a. sideelevational viewthereof Fig. 3 is a side elevationalview'of a switch hous- 2- ingembodying the invention and a switch bodymounted therein; Fig. 9. is a. transverse sectional view thereof;

Fig. 10. is a side elevational View of a contact member of the switchhousing shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 1'1 is, a vertical section of a switch body showing modified formof terminals; Fig. 12 is, a side elevational view thereof; Fig. 13 is. atop plan View of a contact. member for use with the switch body shown inFig.11;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of still a further modified form of switchbody;

Fig; 15 is a side: elevational view of a switch body showing means forrotating the same; and

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the switch body shown in Fig. '7-and' rotated to its 01f position.

Referring in detail to the drawing and particu-. larly to. Figs. 1 and2, I0 designates a switch body embodying the invention. The samecomprises a pair of similar, juxtaposed walled members II which aresecured together to. form a hermetically sealed chamber l2 between themembers.

Each of the members I l comprises a dished circular wall I 31 from whichthere extends outwardly a peripheral portion M. The members. II' areformed of a molded vitreous material such as glass. The members H arereadily bonded together by fusion of the opposed faces of the.peripheral portions. [4.

The members: I l are provided with aligned terminal pins t5 hermeticallysealed into. walls l3 and disposed transversely thereof. The inner endof pins l5 extend to the chamber l2 while the outer ends of: the pinsproject exteriorlyof the walls [3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pins[5 are eccentricall-y related to the axis of the circular walls I 3. Oneofthe pins 1 5 may be hollow to permit. the exhaustion of the chamberl2, following the introduction of a small amount of mercury I1 into thechamber. The exhausted air is replaced by gas such as helium, nitrogen,car bon dioxide, or the like. The hollow pin is: then suitably-sealed;

A radially extending handle It may be fixed to the body [:0 by havingits inner end suitably secured to a selected portion thereof. The handIemay be of metal and fused to the vitreous members or it maybe ofanon-metallic material, such as plastic or the like, in which case itmay be cemented or otherwise secured to the vitreous members.

The switch body I0 may be mounted in a suitable housing provided withopposed contacts cuit and which may be engaged by the terminals l whilesaid body is rotated through a predetermined angle by means of handle I8which is adapted to project exteriorly of the housing. It is understoodthat in one position of the body, the pins l5 are immersed in the poolof mercury l1, thereby electrically interconnecting the same to completethe circuit, while in another position of the body, the pins will bedisposed above the level of the mercury pool ll, as shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 2, thereby electrically disconnecting the terminals andbreaking the circuit. Y

To reduce arcing efiects within chamber 12, the pins I5 may be in offsetrelation to each other, whereby, on rotation of the body Ill, only oneof the pins 15 emerges from the mercury pool IT, to break the circuit.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is shown a switch body illustrating a modificationof the invention. The same comprises a pair of similar, juxtaposedcircular vitreous members 2|. Each of these members includes a wall 22formed with a recess 23 on one face thereof, disposed eccentrically ofthe transverse axis of the wall. The members 2| further includeoppositely disposed face portions 24. The members 2! are readily fusedtogether at the opposed faces of the portions 24. The opposed recesses23 will thus form a hermetically sealed chamber 25. Metal alloy pins 26are hermetically seal-ed into the walls 22 transversely thereof toprovide terminals. The terminals are disposed at the transverse axis ofrotation of the body 20 and extend to the lower portion of chamber 25 asshown in Figs. 3, 4.

The chamber 25 has a small amount of mercury 21 introduced thereinthrough one of the pins 26 in the manner previously described. Onrotating the body 20 about its terminals 26 as an axis, by means of ahandle 28 extending from the body, from the position shown in Fig. 4 tothe position shown in Fig. 5, the terminals will maintain their axialposition while the mercury level will change from a position coveringthe inner ends of the terminals to a position uncovering the terminals,thereby electrically disconnecting the same.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a switch body 30 similar to that shown inFigs. 1, 2, except as hereinafter described. The dished members llenclose a ceramic barrier disc 3!. The disc 3| is of a thicknesssubstantially equal to that of chamber l2 between the members II and isformed on its opposite faces with recesses 32 which are interconnectedby a transverse opening 33. The terminals l5 in walls I3 are disposedslightly out of alignment with opening 33. In one position of the body3! the mercury I! extends on either side of the disc 3| as well as inthe opening 33 therein so as to electrically interconnect the terminalsl5. On rotating the body 30 through a predetermined angle by means ofhandle [8, the opening 33 in disc 3! will be above the level of themercury IT, as shown in Fig. 16, thereby dividing the mercury pool intotwo separated portions and breaking the circuit between the terminals.

The switch bodies l0 and 3 may be mounted for rotation in a switchhousing- 48 which comprises a pair of walledmembers 4! in opposedrelation, as shown in Figs. 8, 9. The members 4! may be formed withsuitable recesses 42 to receive the switch body. The members 4! arefurther formed on their inner surfaces with arcuate grooves 43. Disposedwithin the grooves 43 are arcuate strips 44 of contact metal formed witharcuate grooves 45 for receiving the terminal pins l5 and guiding thesame during their arcuate movement upon rotation of the switch body.Extensions 46 of the strips 44 project outwardly of the housin and areprovided with screws 41 to form terminal connectors. The handle l8 onthe switch body projects through an opening 48 in the housing to permitrotation of the switch body through a predetermined angle. The rotationof the switch body makes or breaks the circuit in which the switch isconnected, in the manner previously described.

The angular extent of the arcuate grooves 45 in contacts 44 willdetermine the limits of rotation of the switch body and form stops toestablish on and off positions of the switch.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are shown a further embodiment of the invention.The same comprises a switch body 50 which includes dished vitreousmembers II and a sealed mercury chamber l2, as previously described.Each of the members H has secured to the outer face thereof, a terminal5!. The terminal 51 includes a portion 52 extending through the walls ofmember II and projecting into chamber 12. Each of the terminals 5| isfurther formed with a pair of curved, concentric flanges 53 connected attheir opposite ends to form an arcuate guideway 54.

The switch body 58 may be mounted for retational movement in a switchhousing similar to housing 40 except as hereinafter described. Thehousing walls are formed to receive contact members 6|. As shown in Fig.13, members 6! include pins 62 at right angles thereto, such pins beingreceivable in guideway 54 of terminals 5! and making sliding contacttherewith upon rotation of the switch body 59. The contact members 5|may be of spring metal, suitably biased toward each other to resilientlypress the pins 62 against members 5! of the switch body 50. The members6| also include terminal screws 63 for making suitable connections withthe wiring with which the switch is associated.

In Fig. 14 is shown a switch body Ill which includes a pair of dishedvitreous members ll which are fused together to form a hermeticallysealed chamber 72. Interposed between the members H is an annularmetallic member 73 of T shaped transverse section. The member 73 becomessealed between the fused members H and provides an outer rim portion 14.The rim portion 74 may be used to secure a handle thereto for rotatingthe switch body. Also, the rim portion may provide a bearing surface forthe switch body relative to the housing in which the switch body ismounted.

The dished vitreous bodied used in making the liquid contact switches,referred to hereinabove, may be of glass or glassy material of asuitable fusing point. The terminals fused into the dished members aremade of suitable metals or metal alloys well known in the art andselected in terms of the particular glass used in making the vitreousmembers, to insure the proper hermetic seal therebetween.

The switch bodies may be provided with one or more notches on peripheralportions thereof, to attach handles having portions removably engaged insaid notches. Since the bodies are of insulating vitreous material, thenotch engaging portions of the handle may be of spring metal suitablyflanged toengage the notches. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 15wherein the peripheral portion of switch body' it is formed with notches80. A handle [8a includes a spring metal portion 8| with flanges 82 atopposite ends thereof which may be snapped into notches 80.

It will thus be seen that there is provided electric switches in whichthe several objects of this invention are achieved and which are welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it isunderstood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanyingdrawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. A switch comprising a housing including a pair of opposed walls,opposed facing contact means on said walls, a rotatable circuit closerlocated between said contact means and including terminals respectivelyassociated with each of said contact means, each pair of associatedcontact means and terminals having relative slidable engagement in apredetermined arcuate path.

2. A switch as in claim 1, wherein said termi nals are eccentricallydisposed relative to the transverse axis of said circuit closer and saidcontact means comprises arcuate strips.

3. A switch as in claim 1, wherein said contact means are eccentricallydisposed relative to the transverse axis of said housing and saidterminals comprise arcuate strips.

4. A switch comprising a housing including a pair of opposed walls,arcuate contact strips on said walls in opposed facing relation to eachother, a rotatable liquid contact closer between said 6 strips, saidcloser having outwardly projecting terminals eccentrically related tothe axis of rotation of said closer, each of said terminals slidablyengaging one of said contact strips respectively, and means for rotatingsaid closer.

5. A switch as in claim 4, wherein said contact strips include means forlimiting the extent of rotation of said closer. I

6. A switch comprising a housing and a rotatable circuit closer mountedtherein, said closer including a pair of terminal members eccentri callylocated relative to the rotational axis thereof and movable in anarcuate path upon rotation oi! said closer and contact members on saidhousing respectively engageabl with said terminal mem- MANNES N.GLICKMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,101,092 Payne Dec. '7, 1937 2,434,065 Courtney Jan. 6, 19482,572,505 Miller Oct. 23, 1951

